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Fire levy fails

BUCKLAND — Buckland village residents let out a resounding “no,” as unofficial election results showed that a 4-mill fire and rescue levy was defeated by a 45-17 margin.

Buckland Mayor Dan Lambert said he was surprised and disappointed in the vote.

“I honestly thought the people would support it since it was for fire and rescue,” Lambert said. “I didn’t expect it to be defeated.”

The defeat marked the second consecutive election that a fire levy in the village went down in defeat.

In November, a 2.6-mill levy was defeated by voters. The levy was designed to collect approximately $9,000 annually, with approximately $5,400 going to the Buckland Fire Department and $1,500 going to the village of Cridersville to provide EMS services.

The rest was going to be set aside for purchases of

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equipment at the fire department.

Lambert said the money was needed largely because of large operating funding cuts from the state the last two years, which he said has been about $33,000 per year.

He said it was unclear currently what direction Buckland Village Council members would take, but he believed it would be at the top of the agenda during Thursday’s council meeting.

“We will get together Thursday and discuss our options and see what our next step will be,” Lambert said. “At this point, I don’t have an answer. We will discuss it there.”